The @Dbacks are still unbeaten in the #Postseason and heading home up 2-0 in the #NLDS. pic.twitter.com/zohdJ2KVbW
— MLB (@MLB) October 10, 2023
On Monday night, just two days after they cast aside the ghosts of Dodger Stadium that had been haunting them, the D-backs came dangerously close to forcing the Dodgers to take an early winter break.
With a dominating 2-0 lead in the best-of-five National League Division Series against the Dodgers, the D-backs jumped out to an early lead in the first inning once again.
It was definitely not what the baseball community had anticipated, considering that the Dodgers had won 100 games and the NL West title, while the D-backs had only managed 84 games and were the final NL Wild Card team.
Veteran outfielder Tommy Pham of the Dbacks stated, “Really, I was hoping to leave here with one win.” “Even better, we have two.”
What a lame call from Bob Costas. He sounds so despondent and annoyed. At least pretend to be unbiased. #Dbacks pic.twitter.com/trXnuIlbCz
— Alex D’Agostino (@AlexDagAZ) October 10, 2023
Teams that take a 2-0 lead have won the series 78 times out of 88 times in all best-of-five postseason series. In the Division Series with the current 2-2-1 format, 10 clubs have advanced through sweep, while 14 teams (88%) that have won Games 1 and 2 away have advanced. The 2015 Rangers, who took a 2-0 lead at Toronto before losing three in a row, were the last team to lose in that specific scenario.
The D-backs, who beat the Brewers in two games during the NL Wild Card Series last week in Milwaukee, will try to complete a sweep in Game 3 on Wednesday night at Chase Field.
Game 3 is sold out, the D-backs said on Monday. They are hoping to get a boost from the home crowd after travelling for their previous four postseason games.
Outfielder Alek Thomas stated, “Going home is going to be awesome,” and added, “leaving here with two wins is a good feeling.” So maybe D-back supporters will come out in force. It will be truly amazing.
FIRE. IN. MY. BLOOD. #Dbacks pic.twitter.com/xDYrab8N9x
— Alex D’Agostino (@AlexDagAZ) October 10, 2023
The D-backs set the tone early for the second straight night.
The D-backs jumped on Dodgers rookie starter Bobby Miller for three runs this time, following their six-run first inning against Kershaw in Game 1.
“Those are excellent pitchers, and we’ve been having luck,” Pham remarked.
Arizona dropped its final four games of the season as a result of a collective offensive slump by the D-backs. At the time, manager Torey Lovullo expressed his desire for his youthful squad to have more “mature” at-bats, which essentially meant fewer pitches chased outside the zone.
Since the start of the postseason, Arizona’s hitters have been locked in and have refused to swing at pitches that are borderline, so something changed with the offence.
Outfielder Corbin Carroll of the D-backs stated, “I think that maybe there’s been a few fewer pitches over the plate.” We have performed admirably in not attempting to force something to happen by looking outside of ourselves. Accept whatever they give us. Particularly during that Milwaukee series—for example, understanding that our at-bat performance would determine who we saw the following night and other such details Everyone simply showed excellent buy-in.
Oh Lourdes!@yunitogurriel smashes his first career #Postseason homer. pic.twitter.com/knvNt0HSTD
— MLB (@MLB) October 10, 2023
Carroll has been the offensive leader once more. In his first four career postseason games, he has now safely reached base eleven times, including three walks and a single on Monday. With 12 this postseason, Rangers player Evan Carter leads all rookies with the most, having scored the second-most in his first four career postseason games.
Regarding what makes Carroll so good, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts stated, “It’s the bat-to-ball and speed component.” He could get an infield hit if he puts the ball on the ground. He also has zone control. Bobby certainly isn’t getting too large for the moment because even in his first at-bat today, he threw a few pitches that were on the borderline. He is proficient in running at-bats.
The knowledge that they can defeat the Dodgers in their home field, a location that has plagued Arizona for years, was one of the carry-on items the D-backs carried when they loaded up their buses for the trip to the airport and journey home.
.@JDMartinez28 gets the @Dodgers on the board. #Postseason pic.twitter.com/18YhSw238L
— MLB (@MLB) October 10, 2023
First baseman Christian Walker of the Dbacks stated, “We don’t want to let this team hang around.” “We wish to step on their necks and go on.”
Despite their talent and postseason experience, the Dodgers are a proud team that is not going to go down easily.
Roberts remarked, “We’ve won three straight games before.” “We know this ballclub very well. We need to find a method to change the course of events because they are playing excellent baseball.